Page 13 of Cursed (Wicked Heirs #2)

Exhaustion and frustration were my constant companions.

Ever since Bastian had shown me how to awaken the grimoire, it occupied not only my thoughts, but my focus as well.

My hands and arms ached with half-healed cuts, but the pages of the grimoire were still a mystery to me.

I had half-translated a few pages— But with every attempt I made, I was met with more disappointment, and the sigils and symbols that writhed across the stained pages seemed to fade away faster each time my blood was absorbed into the parchment.

I sat in the window seat and stared out at the rain-soaked gardens and hugged my knees to my chest.

I’d done my best to forget what Titus had said—his promises were all lies.

I was sure of that.

I could never trust him. Or any of them.

But Bastian had helped me—

The creak of the door startled me and I spun around in fear.

I hadn’t heard anyone knock.

A servant stood in the doorway and I scrambled off the window seat and pulled my sleeves down to hide the strips of linen I’d tied around my cuts to act as makeshift bandages.

“What is it?” I blurted out.

I worried she would look around the room and report to Lucian about what she’d seen, but the woman’s gaze held mine steadily and her smile was brief. “Miss Velez— Master Lucian would like you to know that you are free to visit the gardens.”

“With an escort,” I said bitterly. I was instantly embarrassed by the sharpness of my tone, but her expression didn’t change.

“No,” she replied. “On your own.”

“Oh.”

I glanced out the window—the rain that had pounded against the window all night and most of the morning had stopped and though evening approached; I was desperate for fresh air..

“May I go now?” I asked.

“If you wish.”

I nodded. “I do.”

She provided no explanation for this sudden change in my captivity, and I didn’t ask any questions—not that the woman would have answered any.

But I could guess that Lucian was pleased by the fact that I was attempting to decipher the Bloodstone Grimoire.

Perhaps the cool night air would wash away the suffocating dread that gripped my heart.

I tucked the dagger back into the spine of the grimoire and laid a blanket over it.

I wondered if I should hide it somewhere—but I had learned the hard way that trying to ignore the cursed thing only made it angry…

Even as I descended the stairs to the foyer, its whispers were loud in my mind.

As time had passed and I had read deeper into the book’s pages, the whispers which had been indecipherable became clearer. More distinct.

They were filled with temptation and longing.

Promises.

And anger.

You’re not strong enough.

Even an ancient book knew I wasn’t worthy of touching its pages.

My footsteps were careful as I navigated the dimly lit corridors and made my way toward the door that led out to the gardens.

“Just a little fresh air,” I murmured as I laid my hand on the heavy iron knob. Would it really help?

Or was there something waiting for me in the garden to ensnare me…

The question gnawed at me like a ravenous beast and the memory of my nightmares—the twisting vines and the agony of abandonment—every night they returned, and every night I awoke drenched in sweat and aching in places I didn’t want to think about.

The cool air wrapped around me as I stepped across the threshold and out into the gathering twilight.

The path to the garden was lit with lanterns, and I wondered if Lucian had done this for me—

The lanterns drenched the gardens in an otherworldly glow that made the shadows that writhed and shifted as I passed. The shadows in my room had become my companions as I agonized over the grimoire—they didn’t frighten me anymore.

Or was that a lie, too?

As I ventured farther along the cobblestone path, the manicured hedges grew wild, their claws reaching out as if to ensnare me. I paused as a shiver raced down my spine. A rustle in the darkness set my nerves on edge, and I slowed my breath, straining to listen. Was it merely my mind playing tricks on me? Or was something more sinister lurking just beyond the hedges?

“Careful where you venture, little bird—”

His voice slipped through the quiet like a dagger in the dark, sharp and smooth.

I choked back a gasp and spun around to face Valen. A nearby lantern framed his silhouette and my pulse quickened—not from fear alone, but from the magnetic pull he exuded, the same dark allure that both intrigued and repulsed me.

The last time I’d seen him in the garden, his fingers had been stained with poison—but not this time.

“Valen— You startled me.”

“Did I?” He stepped closer, emerging from the shadows with a grace that unsettled me. His tousled hair caught the light, and it framed his face in a way that made him look almost ethereal—yet his gaze was anything but innocent.

“Daddy let you out of your cage, I see— No escort?”

I narrowed my gaze, instinctively stepping back, wary of his presence. “No— I— I should go back.”

“Don’t be so hasty— I won’t bite,” he said, and a sly smile crept across his lips. “Unless you ask me to.”

My breath hitched, an involuntary reaction to the chill that crept into my bones—and his nearness. I could feel the power radiating from him, and it drew me in despite my better judgment. I wanted to break away from this conversation and retreat into the safety of the mansion, yet something held me captive, tethered to his enigmatic presence.

“There’s something different about you,” he said after a moment, and his brow rose slightly. “Something… darker.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I choked out.

He reached out and grabbed hold of my wrist with the speed of a striking snake, and I cried out in pain as his fingers closed over one of my self-inflicted cuts.

His eyes widened, and he released me instantly. “Avril—”

“It’s nothing,” I said as I held my arm against my chest. “What are you doing out here? Picking more poisoned flowers?”

Instead of answering, he raised his hand. Pale blue smoke wreathed his fingers and wound up his arms as the plants around us came alive.

Vines slithered from the earth, curling and twisting as they responded to his unspoken command with eerie beauty. They glimmered under the lantern light and pulsated with an ethereal glow as they weaved in a mesmerizing dance that entranced me despite my better judgment.

I gasped as one vine snaked toward me and brushed against my skin with the gentleness of a lover’s caress before it wrapped around my bare leg with surprising strength. Panic surged through me, and I pulled against it, heart racing, as memories of my nightmare flooded back.

“Let go!” I hissed as fear tightened my throat. “I can’t—”

“Avril, relax,” he said. His voice was smooth like honey, but something darker tainted that sweetness. “It won’t harm you— Not unless you resist.”

The vine tightened as it wound up my leg and then my waist, pulling me closer to him. I stumbled forward, my pulse pounding in my ears. “Please! Make it stop—” I begged.

“Very well.” With a flick of his wrist, Valen commanded the vine to wither away like autumn leaves, and I was released from its grip. It fell lifelessly to the ground and left behind a faint shimmer that faded into the damp earth.

“You’re... you’re dangerous,” I hissed as anger welled up in my chest and pushed away my fear. I took a step back as I tried to regain my composure, though my heart still raced.

“Perhaps.” He regarded me with an inscrutable expression that both captivated and unnerved me. “But so are you, sister. You have a power within you— I can feel it. Begging to be let out.”

“Teach me?” I echoed, doubt creeping into my voice. “Why would you want to help me?”

“Because,” he stepped closer, and I froze in place as he laid a hand on my shoulder, “you deserve better. Imagine wielding magic not as a victim, but as its master. What if you were able to embrace the darkness rather than fearing it?” His words wrapped around me, seductive but perilous, and they filled my mind with swirling thoughts I had tried so hard to banish.

The grimoire’s whispers surged forward, as though they were eager for my answer.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, though even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

“Really? A pity.”

A part of me longed to accept his offer and dive into the depths of the magic contained within the grimoire. If Bastian and Titus had discovered its secrets, Valen must have, too. All three of my stepbrothers had offered to help me— But I couldn’t trust them.

What if they wanted it for themselves?

As much as I craved their help—another part of me screamed for caution.

Don’t give in.

Give in— the grimoire whispered. Louder now.

“Think about it,” Valen murmured. “You could be so much more.”

I swallowed hard. “No,” I choked out, but even to myself, it sounded like a lie. I was already trapped here—and I was so tired… Exhausted by it all. Exhausted by my own weakness.

“Then consider this an opportunity—a chance to wield your own magic, to gain the strength that has been kept hidden from you.”

My eyes narrowed as I glared at him and pushed his hand away. “Why should I trust you?”

His mouth twisted, but only briefly, and his eyes never left mine. “You’re right,” he replied. “But you don’t have to trust me, Avril. But imagine what you could accomplish if you embraced your true potential.”

Titus had said something similar…

“Say sorry,” I blurted out.

Valen’s laugh was like a gunshot in the silence. “What?”

Tears pricked at my lashes and I blinked them away. “Apologize to me!”

“For what?”

I stared at him, incredulous. “For— for everything—”

“Say it,” he challenged.

“For fucking me,” I burst out. “For making me believe you gave a shit about me and then throwing it all in my face— I trusted you! I trusted all of you!”

My voice echoed over the garden and Valen stood still, his hands in his pockets.

My chest heaved painfully and my throat ached. Tears streamed down my face, hot and fierce.

“Well?” I shouted.

Silence.

Infuriating silence.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have.”

Disbelief flooded through me.

He’d said the words so casually. As though none of it had mattered.

“You asshole.”

He shrugged. “So— what now?”

“What now?”

My laugh was wild, and I was enraged to see Valen’s mouth curve up into a smile.

Breathless, I was actually unable to form any words, and I glared at him with renewed fury.

“I’m sorry you have bad judgement,” he said.

My mouth fell open. “That’s not an apology!”

He shrugged again. “No, it’s not. But I’m not sorry. You were a great fuck. I’d do it again—”

Bastard!

“Are you— Are you serious? Are you really going to stand there and say that you would betray me again?” I shouted back.

He didn’t seem bothered by my outburst, and I wanted to kick him.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then— what—”

Valen stepped forward, and I raised a hand to stop him. My magic surged forward and the pale violet smoke that enveloped my hands seemed stronger than before—but not by much. Not enough to deter him.

His eyebrow rose, but he didn’t stop until my hand was pressed flat against his muscled chest. Why had I thought that my magic would have kept him at bay?

“You don’t need to trust me,” he said. “We can be… transactional.”

“What—” I hissed.

His smile was infuriating.

“Don’t you want someone to talk to— someone to lean on? I can be that for you. I’ll teach you—”

“In exchange for taking advantage of me?” I countered.

He tilted his head. “Mutual advantage, I think.”

My pulse raced, and I struggled to draw a full breath. He had drawn near enough for me to catch the faintest scent of earth and magic on him—a heady blend that intoxicated me. I could feel the magnetic pull between us… being this close to him was… dangerous.

Why was I so stupid?

“Valen…” I warned, but it didn’t sound as strong as I’d intended.

The shadows stirred uneasily around us, but I was trapped in the depths of his gaze.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” he murmured. His voice was a seductive caress, and before I could respond, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me against his chest.

Before I could register what was happening, his lips were on mine and every hurt, every insult, even their betrayal—it all fell away as a desperate lust filled my veins.

As much as I hated them—I wanted them. Bastian, Titus, Valen—all three.

Valen’s lips moved against mine, and my mouth opened under his as his hands moved over my body and tugged at the edge of my sweater dress.

His cock was hard, pressing against my stomach, and I moaned to feel how much he wanted me.

Tears of frustration stung at my eyes, hot and angry, but they dissolved into hazy yearning under Valen’s touch. His hands explored the curves of my body with ruthless precision, and I tangled my fingers in the loose strands of his tousled hair. His warm lips tasted of forbidden magic and bewitching darkness—a whirlpool of danger and desire that I was all too willing to drown in.

“Valen…” I whimpered, but my protest was choked off by another greedy kiss.

His rough hand slipped up to cup my breast through the fabric of my dress, and an all-consuming wave of arousal coursed through me as he groaned against my lips. Yet even as I succumbed to his tantalizing touch, a part of me recoiled at every kiss, every caress. This was wrong—so incredibly wrong. But beneath his commanding presence and amidst the breathless kisses—it all felt so disturbingly right.

My head fell back as his mouth moved over my jaw and down my throat.

Suddenly, an icy shiver raced down my spine. My pulse stuttered as an agonizing stab of pain shot through my mind like a bolt of lightning.

The eerie whispers from the grimoire crescendoed into a deafening roar as vision after horrifying vision assaulted me.

My mother—beautiful and cold. But instead of rotting flesh—she was alive… gorgeous and aloof.

But something was wrong. Her black eyes were filled with fear, and tears spilled down her cheeks as she fell to her knees on rich carpet.

Begging for mercy.

A shadow loomed over her and she stiffened— Her red lips parted as shadowy fingers stretched and flexed around her throat.

My mother’s choked scream clawed through the silence, sharp and echoing, as it dragged me down into the depths of despair.

Panic washed over me like an icy wave and drowned out the warmth of Valen’s body.

I jerked away from him, stumbling back, and my breath came in ragged gasps as I grasped at reality, desperate to shake off the horror.

“No! Please—!”

“Avril!” Valen’s voice sounded far away—muffled by mist and fog. His hands were like lead weights as he grabbed my shoulders and I screamed and pushed him away. The force of my fear propelled me backward as the image of my mother’s last moments burned itself into my soul.

“Stay away!” I choked out and shook my head wildly, trying to dispel the darkness that had invaded my thoughts.

How could I bear this?

How could I stand here, assaulted by the remnants of what I’d just witnessed?

My throat was tight, and my lungs screamed for air, but I couldn’t draw a full breath—

Strong hands gripped my shoulders. But instead of an attack—they were steadying.

Valen.

I sagged into his touch.

“Avril, what just happened?” His voice was low and strained— was that frustration I heard?

“What happened—” I snapped. My heart raced, and each beat was a reminder of the trauma that flashed behind my eyes. “I—I saw her! My mother!” The words tumbled out, raw and jagged, as I struggled to put what I’d seen into words. “She was... she was—”

“Breathe,” Valen urged, “you have to breathe—”

It seemed so simple… but so impossible.

How could I breathe when the echoes of her screams still reverberated in my mind?

“You don’t understand—” I hissed as I pulled away from his touch. “You don’t know what it’s like—”

But Valen didn’t release his grip on me, and I glared up into his dark eyes. “I’m the only one who understands,” he murmured. “Please, just tell me what you saw.”

But all I could see was the image of my mother, forever trapped in that moment of pain.

The shadows, the betrayal.

Her body in the water. Red nails scraping the surface.

My heart thudded painfully against my chest, and I shook my head again as I wrenched away from his grasp.

“Just… just leave me alone.” The words slipped from my lips, heavy and bitter, as I stumbled toward the path that led back toward the mansion, the chilling vision still etched in my mind like a nightmare refusing to fade.

The world around me twisted and blurred, shadows dancing mockingly beneath the moonlight, each flicker igniting fresh tendrils of panic within my chest. Valen’s voice, once smooth and enticing, cut through my thoughts like jagged glass.

“Avril, wait!” His hand reached for me, but I recoiled and forced my legs to move.

“Just leave me alone!” I gasped, the words barely forming between my ragged breaths.

“You’re not safe here,” Valen said. “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”

“Neither do you!” I spat.

With every step I took away from him, I felt the pull of darkness behind me—it would be so easy to go back.

Night had fallen, and the garden was dark—but the lanterns were still lit.

Branches clawed at my bare legs and snagged at my dress as I followed the winding path, but panic propelled me forward. I could hear Valen’s footsteps trailing behind me, but I refused to acknowledge him.

I was drowning in memories that weren’t mine—haunted by visions that stirred dread deep within my soul.

“Avril!” His voice followed me, and I couldn’t decide if his words were desperate or angry. “Please, come back!”

But I couldn’t go back—

“Avril!” Valen called again.

At the door that led back into the house I hesitated, but only for a moment as the vision surged anew, and my mother’s face loomed—pale and rotting—in my mind.

No.

A whimper escaped my lips, and I shut my eyes tight against the specter. I pushed the door open and dragged myself into the house, but my foot caught on the threshold and I fell to the stone floor with a bone-jarring thud .

I lay there, dazed, and tried to force myself to get up—but as I tried to gather my strength, the grimoire’s whispers flooded into my mind. The whispers were insistent, pleading, demanding, begging, threatening…

Avril—

Traitor’s daughter—

Betrayer!

Whore—

Give in.

Too weak!

Never—

She can’t—

I shook my head to silence the voices, but they didn’t stop. Their accusations roared in my ears and I covered them with my hands to muffle the noise—but the volume grew and the voices whipped around me like a maelstrom until I couldn’t bear it any longer—and then darkness rushed over me.